Chat With the Chancellor

Dr. Bill Lindemann

Published
7:00 pm CDT, Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Chat With the Chancellor" is a bi-weekly column authored by Dr. Bill Lindemann, chancellor of San Jacinto College. To propose a possible question for a future column, email teri.fowle@sjcd.edu or call 281.998.6151.

Over the past several months, I have had the pleasure to speak with many community groups regarding the future growth in our community and how San Jacinto College will help meet that need. Nothing warms my heart more than to learn about how the residents of our District, their families and friends have benefited from attending San Jacinto College over the past 46 years. We are very proud to have been a part of the personal career success stories of so many of our families.

What's going on?

In America, and throughout our college district, we have a significant shortage of individuals who have the science, math, and technology education necessary to qualify them for the high-tech jobs available today. Over the past five years, San Jacinto College has built partnerships with the many businesses, which comprise the medical, biotechnology, petrochemical, energy, aerospace, and maritime industries in our area. These partnerships have demonstrated to us the need to expand our science, medical, math, and technology course offerings so that we can increase the quality workforce for our local employers.

What we've done

In an effort to meet the needs of our community and community partners, we have made comprehensive changes to our existing programs and added new programs. I am very proud to report that San Jacinto College has the brightest and best faculty with whom I have ever had the pleasure to work with during my entire 40-year career.

In addition, the college has undergone significant reorganization in all areas of the college to streamline our operations and minimize administrative costs. We have reallocated resources as much as possible to increase the percentage of our budget dedicated to teaching and learning.

San Jacinto College bond referendum

On May 10, 2008, there will be a $295,000,000 bond referendum on the ballot. This referendum will enable the college to construct new science and allied medical and health buildings, as well as create a workforce-training center.

It will also enable the college to update and improve facilities for key vocational technical programs, libraries, physical education facilities, and to create a single center for all student support needs. All of the new construction will support teaching and learning.

This will enable San Jacinto College to enroll additional students in these high-demand career areas where industry needs workers. These additions and improvements will also enable the College to bring our science labs, health labs, and other teaching space to current industry standards which is very different than the industry standards of the 60's and 70's when the current buildings were constructed.

In addition, we will improve the overall infrastructure (drainage, parking, walkways, etc.) and other needed campus upgrades to the overall physical plant on all three of our campuses so we may continue to serve our entire community effectively.

How will this affect me?

Every effort has been made to keep the costs as low as possible so that the tax burden is as minimal as possible. We estimate that when all bonds are sold by 2013, the tax rate will go up no more than 4¢ per $100 for homeowners not claiming an over 65 or disability exemption. Seniors and disabled homeowners will have a lower (if any) increase since approximately 60 percent of our senior homeowners currently do not pay any taxes to San Jacinto College. Below is a chart showing how this will affect you.

The affect for seniors

The San Jacinto College Board of Trustees made a commitment to our over 65 seniors and disabled citizens to provide a tax exemption to minimize the tax impact.

In 2005, District seniors led by the Texas Silver-Haired Legislators including Honorable Irv Brannon, presently councilman for the City of Pasadena and Steve Coycault, Texas Silver-Haired Legislator for Harris County Precinct 2, requested that the Board consider raising the exemption. Since then, the exemption has been raised twice to total $105,000 when the homestead exemption is included. The Board of Trustees intends to continue to take appropriate action to minimize or eliminate property tax increases for over 65 seniors and disabled citizens.

With this exemption, here is the affect on seniors over 65 and disabled homeowners:

If you have any questions about the bond referendum, please visit our website at www.sanjac.edu/bond or feel free to contact our public information office at 281.998.6152.